Protecting mountain areas
The House voted Tuesday to begin extending federal protection to more than a half-million acres of mountains and canyons surrounding the San Fernando, La Crescenta, Santa Clarita, Simi and Conejo valleys. Lisa Friedman in the Daily News.
The bill, known as the Rim of the Valley Study Act, directs the secretary of the Interior Department to examine expansion of the Santa Monica National Recreation Area.
Ultimately, supporters hope the National Park Service will embrace the open space and ecological resources.